Understanding Fat Transfer Options for Breast, Buttocks, and Face
Ran Stark, M.D. is double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He completed over 10 years of training after graduating from medical school, culminating with his one-year Aesthetic Surgery fellowship endorsed by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with... more
Have you ever looked in the mirror and wished you could take fat from your tummy, back, or thighs and relocate it to your breasts or buttocks?
The procedure is called fat transfer or fat grafting, and it has become increasingly popular among individuals who are looking to boost their appearance and feel better about their physical proportions.
What Is Fat Transfer?
The fat transfer procedure takes unwanted fat from areas of your body such as the flanks ("love handles"), abdomen, and thighs, and relocates it to areas where the patient would like to see more fullness and youthful vitality. For example, most patients use the fat transfer procedure to enhance and reshape areas of the body such as the breast and buttocks. Fat transfer can also be used to add more fullness and plumpness to the face, hands, and other areas of the body.
Is Fat Transfer Right for You?
If you’ve ever considered undergoing one of the following procedures, you may be a good candidate for fat grafting:
- Breast augmentation (also known as breast enhancement)
- Gluteal augmentation (also known as a “butt lift”)
- Dermal fillers for the face
In all of these procedures, a bioengineered substance or implant is inserted beneath the skin to increase volume and give a more youthful, uplifted appearance to the face and/or body.
What many patients don’t realize is that a fat transfer procedure can do much the same thing for all of these areas of the body: the breasts, buttocks, and face. The difference is that your plastic surgeon will be using your body's own fat instead of a bioengineered substance or implant.
In fact, this is why a lot of patients prefer the fat grafting option. It is much more natural than having something foreign inserted into your body. Moreover, in addition to feeling more natural, the actual appearance is more natural. Patients say they are happier with their appearance, and at the same time, they don’t feel like their results look unnatural.
Lastly, in nearly all cases, the transferred fat does very well in the new location, and the solution is permanent. Compared to implants and dermal fillers, for example, the effects of a fat transfer last much longer.
Fat Transfer to Enhance the Breasts
If you would like to increase the cup size of your breasts or change where they are located and how they are situated on your chest, fat transfer can help.
There are two parts to the procedure. Dr. Stark will remove unwanted fat from certain area(s) of your body (for example, your abdomen). Next, he will reinsert this fat into specific areas of the breasts. The best candidates for fat transfer breast augmentation are looking for natural results and a relatively small increase in the size of their breasts.
Fat Transfer to Enhance the Buttocks
A fat transfer procedure that is performed to enhance the buttocks is generally called a Brazilian butt lift or BBL. Fat taken from elsewhere on the body through liposuction will be reinserted into the buttocks and hip area. This procedure can augment both the shape and size of your buttocks without the use of any foreign implants.
Many patients who are interested in increasing the roundness or fullness of their buttocks will find the best solution in a fat transfer. It is also ideal for getting rid of "hip dips" and increasing or augmenting the projection of the buttocks or how it sticks out from your silhouette.
Fat Transfer to Enhance the Face
Fat transfer is quickly becoming the most popular way to augment and enhance the face. Many patients who used to prefer dermal fillers to fill in fine lines and wrinkles and fix other problem areas are now turning to fat transfer.
Unlike the effects of dermal fillers, the effects of fat transfers tend to last much longer. Furthermore, the results look extremely natural.
When a fat transfer is used to rejuvenate and enhance the face, it is usually used to amend the following common issues:
- Thinning lips
- Fine lines, wrinkles, and creases
- A diminishing jawline
- Loss of volume in the cheeks
- Drooping eyelids
- Large bags or circles beneath the eyes
Who Is a Good Candidate for Fat Transfer?
Ideal candidates for a fat transfer procedure should be in good physical health and have realistic expectations about the outcome of their surgery. Good physical health means that you do not have any serious underlying conditions or infections that may increase your risk of surgery.
It is also important to follow the pre-surgery instructions given to you by Dr. Stark. Smokers should stop smoking several weeks before their surgery. Additionally, anyone taking dietary supplements or medications should consult with Dr. Stark about whether they need to change or stop these prior to surgery.
Where Can I Find Fat Transfer Near Me?
Does fat transfer sound like something you’re interested in? If you live in the Philadelphia area, Dr. Ran Stark offers fat transfer procedures to enhance areas such as the buttocks, breasts, and face.
Known as one of the most skilled and experienced plastic surgeons in the Philadelphia area, Dr. Ran Stark has already helped countless patients improve their appearance and boost their self-confidence with procedures like fat transfer contouring. At your consultation appointment, he will discuss your goals with you, give you a short physical examination, and go over your optimal cosmetic surgery options.
Even if fat transfer is not an ideal solution for you, Dr. Stark can help you find the best procedure to meet your needs. Many patients find exactly what they’re looking for with a simple tummy tuck, breast lift, or liposuction.
Experience “The Stark Difference” for yourself! Book your consultation today!
